Longford Musical Society launch their 2025 show

Spring is in the air and St Mel’s Musical Society are all set to entertain with their 2025 production.

The group returns with a show they staged to great acclaim in the Temperance Hall back in 2000. They present 'Me And My Girl', a classic of the genre.

The last time out, 25 years ago, the principal parts were played by the brother and sister combination of Benny and Christine O’Brien. This time out Liam Brady (Bill Snibson) and Lindsay Dann (Sally Smith) are cast as the leads.

Set in the late 1930s, it tells the story of an unrefined Cockney gentleman named Bill Snibson, who discovers he's the 14th heir to the Earl of Hareford.

Bill's newly-discovered aristocratic relations bring him to Hareford Hall and attempt to educate him into the ways of the gentry and separate him from his cockney girlfriend Sally.

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For this show the director chair will be occupied by the vastly experienced Peter Kennedy (Galway) while Fintan Farrelly returns to the role of Musical Director after a few years break.

The group have drafted in the expertise of a new choreographer, Cork School of Music graduate Dylan O’Keeffe, while the production team is completed by Stage Manager Eddie Kiernan.

Lead Liam makes his stage return after an eight-year break. No stranger to the spotlight, he previously played Fyedka in 'Fiddler on the Roof' and embraced the quirky charm of Uncle Fester in 'The Addams Family.'

Liam is looking forward to his return to the limelight: “It was a bit daunting at the start, but it's a lot easier when you have such a strong cast. The experiences of people like Lindsay and Declan (Neville), makes it so enjoyable.”

Another experienced cast member is Grainne Fox: “My first show with St Mel's Musical Society was 'Me And My Girl' 25 years ago, when I was two,” she jests, “So it's a really special one for me.”

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Grainne's association with St Mel’s Musical Society has grown since then: “I was part of the ensemble that time. Over the intervening years I've been in so many shows. I just really, really love it. And I've been lucky in the last couple of years to have gotten great parts that I've loved.”

Grainne will portray Lady Jacqueline in this year's production. “It's very different part for me, but it's something I can sink my teeth into. It's just such a pleasure to work with such an amazing group. There are 40 people in the cast, then you have the crew and the committee. Everybody is doing a super job.”

Liam describes the show as a great balance of music and drama: “The music is great, there are so many tunes people will know. We have Fintan Farley back as our MD this year, which will ensure it is of a very high standard.”

The show features favourite musical numbers such as ‘Leaning on a Lamp Post’, ‘The Lambeth Walk’, ‘The Sun Has Got His Hat On’ and the theme song ‘Me And My Girl’, along with other classic tunes.

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Grainne says returning to a classic musical seemed a natural move: “We did Legally Blonde last year. It was a really high energy, young and fun show. This one is a bit different, but still fun, high energy and loads of dancing, loads of singing and loads of comedy.”

Liam says 'Me and my Girl' is an easy sell. “It's a classic, laugh a minute, great music, great fun, an enjoyable night out.”

This much loved show will run for six nights in the fully tiered seating at St Mel’s College Sports Hall from Monday, April 21 to Saturday, April 26 Booking: gr8events.ie